(Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, New York City, NY, on an 8 mile ride around Central Park with Dianne, April 19, 2023)

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalm 103:8

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Psalm 103 (NRSV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—

who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.

For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.

As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field;

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,

to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, obedient to his spoken word.

Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.

Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you.

(Ascension Lutheran Church, Louisville, KY, on an 5.5 mile ride, October 16, 2022)

Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you.

Psalm 102:1

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Psalm 102 (NRSV)

Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you.

Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call.

For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.

My heart is stricken and withered like grass; I am too wasted to eat my bread.

Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my skin.

I am like an owl of the wilderness, like a little owl of the waste places.

I lie awake; I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.

All day long my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.

For I eat ashes like bread, and mingle tears with my drink,

because of your indignation and anger; for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.

My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.

But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; your name endures to all generations.

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to favor it; the appointed time has come.

For your servants hold its stones dear, and have pity on its dust.

The nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory.

For the Lord will build up Zion; he will appear in his glory.

He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their prayer.

Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord:

that he looked down from his holy height, from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,

to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die;

so that the name of the Lord may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,

when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.

“O my God,” I say, “do not take me away at the mid-point of my life, you whose years endure throughout all generations.”

Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing, and they pass away;

but you are the same, and your years have no end.

The children of your servants shall live secure; their offspring shall be established in your presence.

(First Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN, on an 6.5 mile ride with stops at the Chattanooga Lookouts baseball stadium and the Tennessee Aquarium, September 18, 2022)

I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house.

Psalm 101:2

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Psalm 101 (NRSV)

I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing.

I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;

I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.

One who secretly slanders a neighbor I will destroy. A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate.

I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, so that they may live with me; whoever walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.

No one who practices deceit shall remain in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue in my presence.

Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the Lord.